The Ecuador Soccer Federation (FEF) on Monday condemned the behaviour of a number of of its gamers, together with Chelsea-bound teenager Kendry Páez, for going to a strip membership throughout the worldwide break, however didn’t concern any punishment.
Video photos have circulated on social media since Monday displaying Ecuador internationals Robert Arboleda, 32, Gonzalo Plata, 23, and Páez, 16, at a membership in New York.
– Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, extra (U.S.)
The footage is believed to have been taken on Friday, in the future after Ecuador’s 2-0 pleasant win over Guatemala in New Jersey.
In one of many clips, São Paulo defender Arboleda is reportedly displaying a wad of greenback payments whereas within the background a stripper is dancing in entrance of Páez, who stays seated subsequent to Al Sadd’s Plata.
The FEF didn’t identify the gamers in a press release however stated that the squad was given time without work on Friday “between 14:00 till 20:30, which was totally complied with.”
It then added: “Given the information of public information… Pictures of occasions opposite to the values and ideas that we defend and promote as an establishment have been disseminated, which would be the topic of study for future call-ups.”
The FEF, nevertheless, has not stated if the gamers will likely be punished.
Whereas the episode has triggered a scandal in Ecuador, with Páez a minor, Arboleda resorted to sarcasm and wrote on Instagram tales as reported in El Universo: “Any more, on my days off I’ll learn the Bible as a result of one cannot even have enjoyable…”
Plata wrote on Instagram tales: “They do not like something, it is dangerous to have enjoyable” however deleted the message quickly after.
Ecuador sports activities minister, Andrés Guschmer, says Páez is “very affected” by what has occurred.
“I really feel sorry for him, I spoke to him,” Guschmer stated. “Emotionally he is very affected. I informed him, not as a minister however as somebody who is aware of him and cares for him, that you simply study from errors. That he has to re-establish his picture and his skilled function.
“That he can’t commit a lot of these errors as a result of it may be very pricey. He is solely 16. He is taking part in with adults. They make you’re feeling like adults and at instances make you do issues which are for adults however he is simply a young person.”
Páez, a midfielder, was on the bench for Thursday’s sport however got here on as an alternative in Sunday’s 2-0 pleasant loss to Italy, Ecuador’s final sport earlier than this summer time’s Copa América.
Chelsea introduced in June 2023 it had reached a deal to signal Páez from Independiente del Valle and that he would be a part of the membership when he turns 18 on Could 4, 2025.